U.S. patent application number 11/525083 was filed with the patent office on 2007-07-12 for optical connector and board.
This patent application is currently assigned to Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Toshimichi Iwamori, Kenji Yamazaki.
Application Number | 20070160330 11/525083 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38232829 |
Filed Date | 2007-07-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070160330 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yamazaki; Kenji ; et
al. |
July 12, 2007 |
Optical connector and board
Abstract
An optical connector mounted on a board comprises an optical
connector main body that performs optical transmission and a fixing
pin that fixes the optical connector main body to the board. The
optical connector main body has a pin insertion hole that the
fixing pin is inserted.
Inventors: |
Yamazaki; Kenji; (Ebina,
JP) ; Iwamori; Toshimichi; (Ebina, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MORGAN LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP
1111 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20004
US
|
Assignee: |
Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
|
Family ID: |
38232829 |
Appl. No.: |
11/525083 |
Filed: |
September 22, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
385/88 ; 385/14;
385/92 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K 2201/10121
20130101; H05K 1/18 20130101; H05K 2201/10962 20130101; H05K 1/0274
20130101; H05K 3/3447 20130101; H05K 2201/10303 20130101; H05K
3/305 20130101; G02B 6/30 20130101; G02B 6/4214 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
385/88 ; 385/14;
385/92 |
International
Class: |
G02B 6/36 20060101
G02B006/36; G02B 6/12 20060101 G02B006/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 11, 2006 |
JP |
2006-003893 |
Claims
1. An optical connector mounted on a board comprising: an optical
connector main body that performs optical transmission; and a
fixing pin that fixes the optical connector main body to the board,
the optical connector main body defining a pin insertion hole that
the fixing pin is inserted.
2. The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein an optical
waveguide that transmits an optical signal is mounted on the board,
and the optical connector carrying a function of optical signal
transmission between the board and an outside, and the fixing pin
fixes the optical connector main body when the optical connector
main body is mounted on the board.
3. The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein the optical
connector main body includes an optical path changing unit that
changes a direction of an optical path in the optical connector
main body.
4. The optical connector according to claim 1, wherein an
electronic component is mounted on the board, the optical connector
main body includes an electric connection unit that carries the
function of electric signal transmission between the board and the
outside, and the fixing pin also carries the function of the
electric signal transmission between the optical connector main
body and the electronic component on the board.
5. A board comprising: an optical waveguide transmitting an optical
signal and being mounted on the board; a board main body including
a signal medium conversion device, the signal medium conversion
device carrying a function of conversion between an electric signal
and an optical signal, and the signal medium conversion device
being mounted at a position where optical signal transmission is
performed through the optical waveguide; and an optical connector
being mounted on the board main body and carrying a function of the
optical signal transmission between the board main body and an
outside, the optical connector including: an optical connector main
body that carries a function of optical transmission; and a fixing
pin that fixes the optical connector main body to a position where
an optical signal is transmitted between the optical connector main
body and the optical waveguide, the board main body and the optical
connector main body defining pin insertion holes that the fixing
pins are inserted respectively.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] (i) Technical Field
[0002] The present invention relates to an optical connector and a
board used in optical wiring in which light is a medium.
[0003] (ii) Related Art
[0004] Recently, communication system to which a high-speed and
large-capacity optical transmission technology is applied is
becoming widespread. An optical fiber and an optical waveguide are
widely used when boards are connected to each other by optical
wiring in which light is a medium. Frequently large stress is
applied to an optical connector which is attached to an end portion
of the optical fiber or optical waveguide due to cable routing
during attaching and detaching the optical fiber in an instrument
assembly process or the like. Therefore, a structure which can
withstand the stress during attaching and detaching the optical
fiber is required for the optical connector.
SUMMARY
[0005] An optical connector according to an aspect of the invention
is an optical connector mounted on a board comprising:
[0006] an optical connector main body that performs optical
transmission; and
[0007] a fixing pin that fixes the optical connector main body to
the board,
[0008] the optical connector main body defining a pin insertion
hole that the fixing pin is inserted.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be
described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 shows a procedure in which an optical connector is
mounted on a board according to an exemplary embodiment of the
invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of the optical
connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the
invention;
[0012] FIG. 3 shows an optical connector according to another
exemplary embodiment of the invention;
[0013] FIG. 4 shows an optical connector according to still another
exemplary embodiment of the invention;
[0014] FIG. 5 shows a board according to an exemplary embodiment of
the invention; and
[0015] FIG. 6 shows a board according to another exemplary
embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described
below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0017] FIG. 1 shows a procedure in which an optical connector is
mounted on a board according to an exemplary embodiment of the
invention.
[0018] As shown in Part (a) of FIG. 1, SMD (Surface Mount Device)
components 11 such as LSI are surface-mounted on one of surfaces
10a of a board main body 10, and a fixing pin 13 is inserted into a
pin insertion hole 12 provided in the board main body 10 after a
reflow process. An optical waveguide 14 through which the optical
signal is transmitted is formed in the board main body 10. The
fixing pin 13 fixes the later-mentioned optical connector main body
to the board main body 10.
[0019] As shown in Part (b) of FIG. 1, other components 11 such as
a light emitting and receiving device 15 are surface-mounted on the
other surface 10b of the board main body 10, and the reflow process
is performed. In doing so, the light emitting and receiving device
15 is mounted onto a position where optical signal transmission is
performed with an optical waveguide 14. The light emitting and
receiving device 15 corresponds to a signal medium conversion
device of the invention.
[0020] As shown in Part (c) of FIG. 1, an optical connector main
body 16 is aligned with and mounted on the surface 10b of the board
main body 10. A pin insertion hole 17 into which the fixing pin 13
is inserted is formed in the optical connector main body 16, and
the board main body 10 and the optical connector main body 16 are
aligned with each other by inserting the fixing pin 13, inserted
into the pin insertion hole 12 of the board main body 10, into the
pin insertion hole 17.
[0021] Then, the optical connector main body 16 is fixed to the
board main body 10 through the fixing pin 13 using a UV curable
resin or the like.
[0022] Consequently, a board 1 including the board main body 10 and
an optical connector 2 is obtained. On the board main body 10, the
light emitting and receiving device 15 for performing the
conversion between the electric signal and the optical signal is
mounted at the position where optical signal transmission is
performed with the optical waveguide 14. The optical connector 2 is
mounted on the board main body 10, and carries the function of the
optical signal transmission between the board main body 10 and the
outside, where the optical signal is transmitted between the
optical connector main body 16 and light emitting and receiving
device 15 through the optical waveguide 14.
[0023] FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of the optical
connector of the exemplary embodiment.
[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, the optical connector 2 of the exemplary
embodiment is mounted on the board 1 in which the optical waveguide
14 through which the optical signal is transmitted, and the optical
signal is transmitted between the board land the outside through
the optical connector 2. The optical connector 2 includes the
optical connector main body 16 and the fixing pin 13. The optical
connector main body 16 carries the function of the optical signal
transmission, and the fixing pin 13 fixes the optical connector
main body 16 to the board 1 when the optical connector main body 16
is mounted on board 1. The pin insertion hole 17 into which the
fixing pin 13 is inserted is formed in the optical connector main
body 16.
[0025] Then, an optical connector according to another exemplary
embodiment of the invention will be described.
[0026] FIG. 3 shows an optical connector according to another
exemplary embodiment of the invention.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 3, a connector 2' includes an optical path
changing unit 28 which changes an optical path 26a of an optical
connector main body 26 to any direction, and the function of the
optical connector can be enhanced by including the optical path
changing unit 28. For example, for the board 1 having the structure
integrated with the connector 2', a degree of freedom for the
arrangement can largely be improved in the electronic instruments.
A mirror and a prism can be used as the optical path changing unit
28.
[0028] FIG. 4 shows an optical connector according to still another
exemplary embodiment of the invention.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 4, in the exemplary embodiment, the board 1
is a co-called photo-electric integrated board on which the
electronic components are mounted along with the optical waveguide
14, and an optical connector main body 30 includes an optical
connector unit 31 and an electric connector unit 32. The optical
connector unit 31 carries the function of the optical signal
transmission between the board 1 and the outside, and the electric
connector unit 32 carries the function of the electric signal
transmission between the board 1 and the outside. A fixing pin 33
fixes the optical connector main body 30 to the board 1 when the
optical connector main body 30 is mounted on the board 1. The
fixing pin 33 also carries the function of the electric signal
transmission between the optical connector main body 30 and the
electronic components mounted in an electric wiring layer 40 on the
board 1.
[0030] The optical connector unit 31 and the electric connector
unit 32 are configured to be detachable by a plug-in type
connector. After the optical connector unit 31 is fixed to the
board 1 by inserting the fixing pins 33, inserted into the board 1,
into insertion holes 37a and 37b formed in the optical connector
unit 31, the electric connector unit 32 is inserted into the
optical connector unit 31 to form the hybrid type optical connector
of the exemplary embodiment.
[0031] An optical fiber 34 is connected to an end portion 31a of
the optical connector unit 31, and the optical fiber 34 is extended
to the outside through a through hole 35 which is formed in the
electric connector unit 32.
[0032] Light incident to the optical connector unit 31 through the
optical fiber 34 passes through the end portion 31a of the optical
connector unit 31, and the light is guided to the optical waveguide
14 after an optical path direction is changed by an optical path
changing unit (mirror) 28 formed in the optical connector unit
31.
[0033] Electric cables 36a and 36b are connected to end portions
32a and 32b of the electric connector unit 32, and the electric
cables 36a and 36b are extended to the outside. The end portions
32a and 32b of the electric connector unit 32 are connected to
electric connection points 38a and 38b through electric connection
electrodes 39a and 39b. The electric connection electrodes 39a and
39b are formed in the board 1, and the electric connection points
38a and 38b are provided inside openings of the insertion holes 37a
and 37b into which the fixing pins 33 are inserted. Because the
electric connection points 38a and 38b are connected to electronic
components mounted in an electric wiring layer 40 on the board 1,
the electronic components are electrically connected to the outside
through the electric cables 36a and 36b.
[0034] In the exemplary embodiment, the electric connector unit 32,
the electric connection electrodes 39a and 39b, and the electric
connection point 38a, 38b correspond to the electric connection
unit in the invention.
[0035] As described above, the optical connector of the embodiment
is a connector of the hybrid type, which enables the optical
waveguide and electric circuit on the board 1 to be optically and
electrically connected to the external device.
[0036] FIG. 5 shows a board according to an exemplary embodiment of
the invention.
[0037] The board 1 includes the board main body 10 and the optical
connector 2. The optical waveguide 14 through which the optical
signal is transmitted is formed in the board main body 10. In the
board main body 10, a light emitting device module 21 which carries
the function of the conversion between the electric signal and the
optical signal is mounted at a position 10c where the optical
signal transmission is performed with the optical waveguide 14. The
optical connector 2 includes the optical connector main body 26 and
the fixing pin 13. The optical connector main body 26 carries the
function of the optical signal transmission. The fixing pin 13
fixes the optical connector main body 26 to the position 10d where
the optical signal transmission is performed between the optical
connector main body 26 and the optical waveguide 14. The board main
body 10 and the optical connector main body 26 have pin insertion
holes 10e and 26c into which the fixing pins 13 are inserted
respectively.
[0038] Similarly to the connector 2' shown in FIG. 3, the optical
connector main body 26 of the exemplary embodiment includes the
optical path changing unit 28, so that the optical path in the
optical connector main body 26 can be changing to any direction by
the optical path changing unit 28.
[0039] The light emitting device module 21 corresponds to the
signal medium conversion device in the invention.
[0040] According to the board 1 of the exemplary embodiment, the
general-purpose plastic material having excellent formability can
be employed, because the heat resistant property is not required
for the material employed in the optical connector main body 26.
Therefore, the highly-functional and low-cost board on which the
light emitting device module is mounted can be obtained.
[0041] FIG. 6 shows a board according to another exemplary
embodiment of the invention.
[0042] The board 1' has the configuration similar to the board 1
shown in FIG. 5. However, board 1' differs from the board 1 in
that, instead of the light emitting device module 21 shown in FIG.
5, a light receiving device module 22 which carries the function of
the conversion between the electric signal and the optical signal
is mounted at the position 10c where the optical signal
transmission is performed with the optical waveguide 14.
[0043] The light receiving device module 22 corresponds to the
signal medium conversion device in the invention.
[0044] According to the board 1' of the exemplary embodiment,
similarly to the board 1 shown in FIG. 1, the general-purpose
plastic material having excellent formability can be employed,
because the heat resistant property is not required for the
material employed in the optical connector main body 26.
[0045] The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of
the present invention has been provided for the purposes of
illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive
or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed.
Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to
practitioners skilled in the art. The exemplary embodiments were
chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the
invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling other
skilled in the art to understand the invention for various
embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the
particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the
invention be defined by the following claims and their
equivalents.
* * * * *